Senate adopts amendment and passes bill banning unserialized firearms with limited carve-out for imprinting

The Vermont Senate adopted an amendment to S.209 and then passed the bill on the floor, the presiding officer announced. The bill prohibits unserialized firearms, frames and receivers and ties certain juvenile offenses to those prohibitions. Senator from Chittenden Central (Speaker 4) explained an amendment drafted by counsel Eric Fitzpatrick to clarify timing and create a limited, temporary carve-out for people who transfer a firearm or frame for the purpose of having it imprinted with a serial number.

Senator from Chittenden Central said the amendment ‘‘makes it clear in time ... once printed, the weapon would need to be imprinted and the manufacturer of that weapon would need to cause that to happen,’’ and noted the language was adjusted to mirror earlier prohibitions so all three have the same temporary exception. The presiding officer put the question on the amendment; the body voted by voice and the amendment was adopted. The clerk then read S.209 for third reading, and the presiding officer announced that the ayes have it and S.209 passed.

Why it matters: S.209 addresses the regulation of unserialized or so-called "ghost" firearms by prohibiting their possession and transfer, while the adopted amendment narrows immediate penalties for items moved only to obtain required serial-number imprinting. The floor actions were by voice vote; the record does not show a roll-call tally.